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Could SoCal Gas Have Prevented the Porter Ranch Gas Leak?

The continuing gas leak that's moving thousands of families out of their homes is an ecological disaster of national proportion. It constitutes 21% of the state's methane emissions and 2.3% of its entire carbon footprint. Now it turns out that Southern California Gas Company removed a safety valve that could have stopped the leaking from pipes it knew were not just decades old but likely to have been corroded.

FROM THIS EPISODE

The continuing gas leak that's moving thousands of families out of their homes is an ecological disaster of national proportion. It constitutes 21% of the state's methane emissions and 2.3% of its entire carbon footprint—all from one hole in the ground. Now it turns out that the Southern California Gas Company removed a safety valve that could have stopped the leaking from pipes it knew were not just decades old but likely to have been corroded.

Also on the program, California voters may be asked for their opinions on unlimited campaign spending in federal elections.

In the hotly contested case called Citizens United, the US Supreme Court overturned limits on campaign spending. Today, the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of a state ballot measure asking that Citizens United be overturned. UC Irvine Law Professor Rick Hasen writes the Election Law blog. His new book is called Plutocrats United.

After two months, 2000 families have already moved out of the upscale Porter Ranch development in the northern San Fernando Valley because of a massive natural gas leak. It won't be fixed for another two or three months more. Many lawsuits have been filed, and the LA Weekly has come up with evidence that could lead some plaintiffs to demand punitive damages. A safety valve might have allowed the leaking pipe to be shut down — but the company removed it in 1979. Gene Maddaus reported that story.